Background: This paper reports on some of the findings of a large-scale survey (n = 852) of family members and support staff of adults with intellectual disabilities receiving community living services in British Columbia, Canada, concentrating on comparison of outcomes across four types of community residential settings: group homes, family model…

Sometimes it takes a child to raise a whole village. Young people have the gifts and talents to raise their villages. They lack only the confidence of their villages in them to do it. At Te Puna Whaiora Children's Health Camps in New Zealand, the approach to helping families reach their potential is radically changing the lives of many children…

Background: Interpersonal staff behaviour is one of the instigating factors associated with challenging behaviour in clients with intellectual disabilities (ID). There are several studies focusing on the influence of intrapersonal staff characteristics--such as beliefs, attributions and emotional reactions--on staff behaviour. Little is known,…

The literature review about deinstitutionalization and normalization of the retarded highlights findings about the relationship between successful programs and size, staff-to-resident ratio, cost, client characteristics, program type, community support, family involvement, and peer relationships. (Author/SB)

Overcrowded correctional systems transfer thousands of prison inmates to community-based correctional programs. Compared 63 community treatment center residents with 163 house arrestees in terms of their characteristics and rates of success/failure during program and for one year after release. Nonresidential program of house arrestees showed…

Structured interviews with staff compared the extent to which mentally retarded persons participate in society when services are provided through the institutional or integrated organization. Significant differences were found in community participation, with higher levels noted for integrated Ss. (CL)

This report to Congress provides critical information about the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families Program (CMHI), including the characteristics of children, youth, and families as they enter the CMHI; the outcomes attained for children and youth, and their caregivers and families after entry into the…

A retrospective examination of 56 young children with severe handicaps in community residential facilities revealed that risk status, facility, and reason were significantly related to early community placement, and children with greater caretaking/medical involvement did not appear to be placed in the community earlier than other severely…

At the Star Commonwealth School (Ohio) for troubled students, students and staff engage in a variety of community volunteer activities, typically with senior citizens, smaller children, and the handicapped. (SW)

This brief article presents data on trends in costs and numbers of recipients of Medicaid served by the Intermediate Care Facility/Mental Retardation program and the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services program. A table presents the data by state and a graph shows the increasing numbers of recipients and costs. (DB)

Gathered extensive data from a detailed questionnaire from all inmates assigned to house arrest (n=156) and from all residents of a community treatment center (n=63). Compared the problems experienced by both groups, their support networks, perceived opportunities and companions, anticipated successes, and attitudes toward their corrections…

Residential facilities for mentally retarded people surveyed in a national study in 1977 were re-contacted in a 1982 replication of the earlier survey. Among facilities surveyed in 1977, 61.6% were found to still be open at the same address in 1982 (did not close, move, or stop serving mentally retarded clients). Stability rates varied…

The direction and scope of deinstitutionalization in 75 public and 161 community residential programs for mentally retarded people in the Unites States were examined by analysis of current levels of expenditures, projected costs, efficacy of existing funding mechanisms, and identification of critical factors affecting cost variation. Results of a…

Examined the feasibility of community-based care for mentally ill offenders and defendants by surveying criminal justice professionals (n=36), mental health and forensic professionals (n=38), and social service representatives (n=21). Findings indicated that mentally ill offenders and defendants were seen as manageable in the community but needing…

Examined deinstitutionalization and community facilities for emotionally disturbed adolescents through statewide survey of 125 licensed group-care providers and field research methods at five small residential facilities. Results suggest these facilities are a new type of social setting with no direct correlation to other types of institutions.…